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The mostly widely celebrated holiday around the world, Christmas is a magical part of the year to experience a destination through its unique, festive traditions and customs. From hiding the brooms on Christmas Eve to sharing a festive bucket of fried chicken, these are some of our favourite, most unique and interesting Christmas traditions from around the world:
Christmas in Japan for most people is less a Christian festival and more a mid-winter celebration of extravagant illuminations and thoughtful gift-giving. The Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture is one of the most famous and spectacular places to see these illuminations, a little over an hour’s journey by train from Tokyo. During the spring and summer, the park is famous for its incredible flowers, including a 150-year-old wisteria tree. Between mid-October and mid-February, these blooms are replaced by thousands of multi-coloured LED lights which adorn the park’s pathways, trees and shrubs.
The European tradition of Christmas markets has also been adopted in Japan, complete with twinkling lights, handmade gifts and live music. Don’t expect a traditional European Christmas dinner of turkey or goose though. In Japan, it’s customary for families and friends to sit down to a family-size bucket of KFC.
Norwegians traditionally begin their Christmas celebrations in the last week of November, when the streets are decorated with twinkling lights and homes are filled with the aroma of festive cookies baking in the oven. You won’t find Santa visiting Norwegian homes – instead, a shy, petite creature called Fjøsnissen who’s often spotted as he goes about his duty of protecting barns and farm animals. Many families leave a dish of Nissegrøt (rice pudding), ideally with cinnamon, sugar and a generous pat of butter, on the doorstep for Fjøsnissen as thanks for his care and protection throughout the year.
According to Norwegian folklore, Christmas is the time of year when witches come out on their broomsticks to cause trouble. The good news is that these witches are easily managed, so long as you remember to follow the Norwegian custom of hiding all the household brooms.
Christmas in Slovenia is about family and creating a sense of magic and wonder, rather than commercial gift-giving. Traditional festive treats include gingerbread cookies and potica: a rolled dough with a filling of walnut or cottage cheese.
On Christmas Eve, Slovenian families enjoy a festive dinner, followed by a Midnight Mass with carols (traditionally), before heading off to bed to await the arrival of Santa Claus (Božiček). The main Christmas gifts are opened on Christmas morning.
The Christmas season actually begins on the night of 6th December, when Slovenian children receive a visit from Saint Nicholas (Miklavž), who leaves small gifts, lollies and mandarins on their plate or Christmas stocking. As an incentive to behave well, a hairy, fanged creature with goat horns known as Krampus roams towns and villages on 5th December as a warning. The Christmas festivities conclude on New Year’s Eve with a visit from Grandfather Frost (Dedek Mraz), who brings gifts to be opened on 1st January (New Year’s Day).
A festively adorned Christmas tree is the hallmark of the holiday season in homes around the world, including in the United States, where a quirky tradition takes place on Christmas morning. Hidden among the usual assortment of decorations on the tree, a single glass pickle waits to be discovered. The first to find the pickle either earns an extra gift or a year of good fortune. Although the origins of this custom are unclear, the Weihnachtsgurke (German for ‘Christmas pickle’) is believed to have originated in German-American communities over a century ago.
Another popular holiday tradition from the United States that has quickly become an essential pre-Christmas ritual in households all over the world, began in 2005 with the publication of a children’s picture book. The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition was originally written for the author’s daughters and is sold with a toy elf whose role is to report back to Santa on the naughty vs nice status of the recipient. His location changes every night, and there is much excitement each morning when his new location (and evidence of his nighttime exploits) is discovered.
The festive season in Iceland lasts for 26 days, beginning on 12th December with the arrival of the first of the Yule Lads. Said to be the children of troll-like monsters who live in the mountains, these pranksters leave small gifts in the shoes of children who are well behaved (and rotten potatoes in the shoes of those who are not).
At the centre of Christmas gift giving in Iceland is a tradition known as Jólabókaflóð, which translates as “Christmas Book Flood.” The giving and receiving of books on Christmas Eve, often accompanied by other cosy treats like hot cocoa or chocolates, is a celebration of the ancient Icelandic tradition of storytelling while that Christmas Day will be a day of quiet, cosy togetherness.
The English version of a mince pie is the treat of choice to leave out for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve: a sweet pastry treat made with a rich filling of suet, dried fruit, candied fruit peel, citrus zest and a dash of warming brandy and spices. Eating one of these delicious treats on each of the twelve days of Christmas (25th December – 5th January) is thought to bring you luck for the coming year.
The fun of pulling Christmas crackers and then sharing the enclosed jokes with friends and family around the dinner table is another tradition that we have adopted from the English. They were originally developed in Victorian England by a sweet seller who placed love messages within his wrapped bonbons. Today’s crackers also typically contain paper crowns as a nod to Saturnalia: the ancient Roman winter solstice festival that predates Christmas.
If you’ve always dreamed of celebrating a truly white Christmas, Finland offers the perfect vision of a snow-filled winter wonderland. You can even celebrate the holiday with the big man and his hardworking elves at Santa Claus Village, which is located near the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland.
As with many European countries, Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day in Finland. After a hearty dinner of roast pork or baked ham and potato casserole, many Finns love to enjoy a relaxing sauna session – ideally followed with a quick and invigorating swim in an icy lake before heading inside to exchange gifts.
In Sweden, the holiday season starts on 13th December with the celebration of Saint Lucia’s Day. On this day, girls and boys dress in white, carrying candles and singing songs that celebrate the saint as the ‘bearer of light’. Many homes display the seven lights of an Advent candelabra in their windows, and families often gather to bake gingerbread cookies and/or build beautifully decorated gingerbread houses (pepparkakshusen).
The Yule goat (Julbock) is a traditional Swedish symbol of Christmas made from straw and bound with red ribbons. It can be seen adorning Christmas trees and doorsteps, while some towns display giant versions – most famously the world-record-breaking Gävle goat. Historically, the Julbock was thought to ensure that holiday preparations were done correctly. However, the main gift-giver in Swedish Christmas traditions is still Jultomten (Santa Claus) who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
The Italian bearer of Christmas gifts is known as La Befana: a kind, witch-like old woman who visits homes to reward the well-behaved and punish the naughty. Good children receive treats such as toys, fruit or candy, while those who misbehave can expect a chunk of coal, an onion or a piece of straw from her broom.
La Befana’s traditional home is the medieval town of Urbania, in central Italy between Florence and the Adriatic coast. Although celebrations in honour of La Befana take place throughout Italy, the festival in Urbania, held on 5th January each year, is the biggest.
In the Catalan region of Spain, children receive their Christmas gifts from Tió de Nadal (Christmas log). The Tió is a hollow log that wears a red barretina hat and stands on stick legs in the fireplace. From 8th December onwards, he is draped in a cosy blanket and carefully fed and cared for, in the hope that on Christmas Eve he can be persuaded to poop (yes, you read that correctly) an assortment of small presents. For best results, sing him the Catalan folk song, Caga Tió!, while gently hitting him with a stick.
The Irish are famous for their generous hospitality, and on Christmas Eve, the spirit of céad míle fáilte (one hundred thousand welcomes) is extended to the biblical family once famously told there was no room at the inn. Families light a single, tall, red candle, placed in the front window to burn throughout the night. The evening is traditionally enjoyed with friends and family, either at home or at a local pub, before heading off to celebrate Midnight Mass.
There are many delightful Polish Christmas customs, some that have been adopted around the world. Polish animals are said to have the gift of speech for a single night on Christmas Eve, and many families begin their Christmas Eve celebration by sharing pieces of oplatek (an unleavened religious wafer) while making wishes for the year ahead. It is also customary to leave an empty seat at the table for an unexpected guest, symbolising hospitality and remembrance of those who cannot be present.
Wigilia, the traditional Christmas Eve supper, begins when the first star appears in the night sky which, given that it’s midwinter, means you’ll begin eating at around 5 pm. Don’t expect to be served any red meat if your hosts are staying true to Polish Catholic customs. Instead, you’ll be treated the twelve dishes of Wigilia, which includes authentic cuisine like carp, herring or pike as well as borscht and pierogi.
Christmas in South Africa is as colourful and vibrant as the Rainbow Nation itself. You can experience traditional Northern Hemisphere elements like twinkling lights and carol singing (such as those seen on Cape Town’s Adderley Street and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens), while enjoying the warmth of the summer season. Many South Africans spend Christmas Day at the beach, enjoying the outdoors and a festive meal.
A South African institution is the braai: a wood or charcoal-fired cookout where perfectly grilled meat, often lamb or chicken, takes centre stage. Roasted whole suckling pig is another popular choice for some families’ Christmas dinner, ideally followed by a generous serving of Malva pudding with custard. Other traditional foods include milk tart, koeksisters, and a variety of salads. Christmas in South Africa is a true celebration of summer, family and community.
The Christmas Day combination of beach, barbecue and backyard cricket is a well-established Aussie holiday tradition. Snow angels and sleigh rides are replaced with surfing and sandcastle building at the nearest beach, and Santa Claus is more likely to be wearing boardies and thongs than a fur coat and boots. Midsummer temperatures also mean hearty dinners of roast turkey and plum pudding are out; prawn skewers and pavlova are in. In the lead-up to Christmas, pack up a picnic basket and head to your local park to enjoy an evening singing Christmas carols by candlelight, where classics like The Twelve Days of Christmas and Jingle Bells have a distinctly Australian flavour.
Our closest neighbours share many of our summer Christmas traditions, albeit with some distinctly Kiwi touches. They might switch out prawns for tender Akaroa Salmon or Mānuka honey glazed ham and replace an Emu up a Gum Tree with a Pūkeko in a Ponga Tree, but they also love a good Santa parade and will argue their claim over the Christmas pavlova to the very end.
Whether your idea of the perfect festive destination holiday involves a snowy wonderland of cobbled streets and centuries-old traditions, or a blissful beach escape far away from the usual family drama, your personal travel manager is ready to act as Santa’s assistant and make your Christmas holiday wishes come true.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
